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New Ruling
A Feb. 25 state Supreme Court ruling has struck down the Washington law that makes simple drug possession a crime.
The now-stricken law made possession of a controlled substance a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a hefty fine. Five justices, led by Justice Sheryl Gordon McCloud, said in the 5-4 ruling the statute was unconstitutional because it doesn't require prosecutors to prove that someone knowingly or intentionally possessed the drugs.
Local authorities can no longer arrest someone solely because the person has a few grams of heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine or other illegal drugs — unless, however, there is suspicion that the individual intended to deliver those drugs, according to Snohomish County Prosecutor Adam Cornell. About a half-dozen people will be released from his county's jail "as soon as possible" as a result of the decision, Cornell said. Those inmates were awaiting trial for simple drug possession alone, or serving sentences after being convicted of only those charges.
Now let's see how this works for guns and ammo:
A Feb. 25 state Supreme Court ruling has struck down the Washington law that makes simple guns and ammo possession a crime.
The now-stricken law made possession of a controlled substance a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a hefty fine. Five justices, led by Justice Sheryl Gordon McCloud, said in the 5-4 ruling the statute was unconstitutional because it doesn't require prosecutors to prove that someone knowingly or intentionally possessed the guns and ammo
Local authorities can no longer arrest someone solely because the person has a few rounds of ammunitions or other illegal firearms — unless, however, there is suspicion that the individual intended to deliver those guns and ammo, according to Snohomish County Prosecutor Adam Cornell. About a half-dozen people will be released from his county's jail "as soon as possible" as a result of the decision, Cornell said. Those inmates were awaiting trial for simple gun possession alone, or serving sentences after being convicted of only those charges.
A Feb. 25 state Supreme Court ruling has struck down the Washington law that makes simple drug possession a crime.
The now-stricken law made possession of a controlled substance a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a hefty fine. Five justices, led by Justice Sheryl Gordon McCloud, said in the 5-4 ruling the statute was unconstitutional because it doesn't require prosecutors to prove that someone knowingly or intentionally possessed the drugs.
Local authorities can no longer arrest someone solely because the person has a few grams of heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine or other illegal drugs — unless, however, there is suspicion that the individual intended to deliver those drugs, according to Snohomish County Prosecutor Adam Cornell. About a half-dozen people will be released from his county's jail "as soon as possible" as a result of the decision, Cornell said. Those inmates were awaiting trial for simple drug possession alone, or serving sentences after being convicted of only those charges.
Now let's see how this works for guns and ammo:
A Feb. 25 state Supreme Court ruling has struck down the Washington law that makes simple guns and ammo possession a crime.
The now-stricken law made possession of a controlled substance a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a hefty fine. Five justices, led by Justice Sheryl Gordon McCloud, said in the 5-4 ruling the statute was unconstitutional because it doesn't require prosecutors to prove that someone knowingly or intentionally possessed the guns and ammo
Local authorities can no longer arrest someone solely because the person has a few rounds of ammunitions or other illegal firearms — unless, however, there is suspicion that the individual intended to deliver those guns and ammo, according to Snohomish County Prosecutor Adam Cornell. About a half-dozen people will be released from his county's jail "as soon as possible" as a result of the decision, Cornell said. Those inmates were awaiting trial for simple gun possession alone, or serving sentences after being convicted of only those charges.